Suction apparatus foe



2 SHEETSSHEET l- Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

A. H. TUTTLE.

APPLiCATlON FILED NOV. 6. 1918.

SUCTION APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL USE.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6 I918.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ALBERT H. TUTTLE, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUCTION APPARATUS FOR, SURGICAL US E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919-.

Application filed November 6,1918. Serial No. "261,416.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. TU'r'rLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of h lassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suction Apparatus for Surgical Use, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a siphon adapted for surgical use in drawing liquid from the body of a. patient, and of such construction that a portion of the siphon may at the outset receive a flowinducing charge 'of liquid, which, in flowing from the outlet end of the siphon, creates a vacuum between the outlet and intake ends, and thereby causes a siphonic flow which may be practically continuous, the liquid flowing from the siphon being constantly replenished by liquid drawn from the patients body.

The invention is embodied in the im provements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, showing an apparatus embodying the invention in position for operation.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the apparatus being inverted and the reducer hereinafter described being removed, to provide an opening for charging and clean-out purposes.

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the outlet-forming disks shown by Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another form of apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the reducer shown by Fig. 7, removed from the reservoir.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

My improved siphon comprises a portable reservoir constituting one end portion of the siphon and adapted to receive a flowinducing charge of liquid, and to be conveniently cleaned out when this is necessary, and an elongated flexible tube connected with the reservoir and constituting the opposite end portion of the siphon, said tube preferably having at its intake end a suitable terminal, such as a catheter, adapted to be inserted in a cavity of a human body.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, 12 represents the reservoir, which may be an "elongated cylinder, and is provided at one end portion with a relatively large opening 13,

nipple, through which liquid enters the reservoir. The reservoir is elsewhere closed and imperforate.

A closure, having relatively adjustable members forming a variable reservoir outlet, is separably connected with the cleanout opening 13, said closure inthis case comprising a flanged cap 15, which is screwthreaded to engage the thread of the neck 13 and is provided with a large opening 16, and a pair of thin metal disks or outletforming members 17 and 18. The larger member 17 is clamped between the neck 13 and the flange of the cap 15, and is provided with a plurality of orifices 19 of different sizes. by a bolt 20 to the member 17, and is provided with an orifice '21 of the same size as the largest orifice 19, the arrangement being such that the orifice 21 may be caused to register with either of the orifices 19 by turning the member 18, which is provided with a handle 22. The member 18 is pressed closely against the member 17 by a spring 23 between the member 18 and a nut 24 on The smaller member 18 is pivoted the bolt 20. 25 represents the flexible tube,!

which is preferably made wholly or in partof rubber, and is connected at one end with the nipple 14. The tube 25 may be provided at its intake end with. a suitable terminal, adapted for surgical use, such as a catheter 26.

a given point, and thus prevent the escape of liquid from the reservoir when the latter is inverted. The clamp here shown is of wellknown construction, and any other suitable closing device may be substituted therefor. The closure is next applied to the opening 13, and the reservior is turned to the position shown by Fig. 1, the inlet 14: being located above the outlet. Suitable means, such as a bail 28 fixed to the reservoir may be provided for supporting the reservoir in the last-mentioned position, said bail being adapted to be engaged by a hook, or other uspensory, engaged with a portion of a bedstead. Two bails 28 are here shown, these being at opposite sides of the reservoir. lVhen the reservoir is suitably located and supported, the terminal 26 is applied to the patient to receive liquid to be removed. The clamp 27, when closed, causes the retention of the charge of liquid in the reservoir by atmospheric pressure. hen the clamp is opened, the liquid in the reservoir commences to flow through the adjustable outlet provided by the orifice 21 and one of the orifices 19, so that a vacuum is at once formed in the upper part of the reservoir and in the tube 25. A flow of liquid from the patients body is therefore induced, the liquid entering the reservoir and replacing that discharged through the outlet thereof, so that the action of the siphon is continuous so long as liquid flows through the tube 25. The action may be interrupted at any time by closing the clamp 27. The reservoir may be cleaned out whenever necessary through the opening 13, the closure being removed. A relatively large opening 13 is essential, not only for reservoir charging, but also for reservoir cleaning.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a different embodiment of the invention, in which the reservoir 12 is provided with legs at its lower end, a tube-engaging nipple 14: at its upper end, and a charging and clean-out opening formed by an internally screw-threaded neck 30 projecting laterally from the wall of the reservoir at or-near its lower end. A closure, having relatively adjustable members forming avariable outlet, is separably con nected with the neck 30. Said closure, as shown by Figs. 7 and 8, includes an externally threaded plug portion 31, engaged with the internal thread of the neck, having a flat head 31 constituting one of said outlet-forming members, with a plurality of orifices 32 of different sizes, and with an externally threaded flange 33, a sleeve or collar 3% internally threaded to engage the flange 33, and a rotary valve body comprising a head 35, and a tubular shank 36, provided with an annular handle or grip portion 37, secured to the shank by a key 38 and a nut 39 engaging anexternal thread on the shank. The bore 40 of the tubular shank is of substantially the same diameter as the largest orifice 32, and has an offset portion 40 adapted to register with either of said orifices. The head 35, which constitutes the other outlet-forming member, is pressed against the plug head 31 by a spring 42 between said head and an internal flange &3 on the sleeve 34. The handle 37 is externally roughened, as by knurling or milling, so that it may be effectively grasped by a hand, and turned to bring the offset bore portion 40 into registration with either of the orifices 32. The valve may be yieldingly maintained in a plurality of operative positions by a spring bolt 45 in the sleeve 34:, having a rounded end, and a series of concave depressions 4:6 in the handle 37. The shank 36 may be extended to form a nipple 36, adapted to engage a flexible waste-conducting tube. The closure may be readily removed by unscrewmg the plug portion thereof from the neck 30, thus enabling the reservoir to be cleaned out and charged.

By providing means as described in each embodiment of the invention for varying the size of the reservoir outlet, I am able to time the duration of the flow of liquid through the siphon and enable the apparatus to withdraw liquid from the patients body either slowly and for a relatively long uninterrupted period, or rapidly and for a shorter uninterrupted period. For example, when the smallest orifice 19 or 32 is in operative position, liquid such as serum originating in the patients body, is permitted to escape very slowly, as drop by drop, and for an uninterrupted period of several hours, so that one quart or less may be drawn automatically in say twenty-four hours. hen the largest orifice 19 or 32 is in operative position, liquid is permitted to flow in a stream of approximately half an inch in diameter, so that several quarts per minute may be drawn, thus providing for the rapid uninterrupted withdrawal. from the patients body of water introduced into a cavity therein for flushing or cleansing purposes.

As shown by Fig. 9, the reservoir may be provided with a charging and clean-out opening 48, which is independent of the siphon outlet and is provided with a removable closure 49, having a nipple 50 for connection with the tube 25, so that the tube may discharge through the opening 48, the closure 49 being a reducer.

The outlet may be a faucet 51 of ordinary construction, the valve or plug of the faucet constituting an equivalent of the clamp 27, as a siphon-closing means.

In each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the reservoir is provided with only two openings, and with means for preventing the use of the larger opening for charging and clean-out purposes when the apparatus is in use.

In each of said embodhnentsf-the :reserv-oir is provided with positioning means, such as a bail 28, Figs. .1 and 2), or the legs shown by Figs. Band 9, adapted to be separably engaged with a :support,-such as a bed frame or .a floor, and to cooperate with the support in maintainingthe reservoir at a predetermined height, the portability of the reservoir-and the separability of its positioning means from the support enabling all of the required adjustments and manipulations of the siphon to be .eflected.

I claim:

1. A suction device for surgical use, comprising a flexible tube having an intake end formed to be insertedin a body cavity, and a reservoir havingat one end a contracted inlet connected with the delivering end of the tube, and at the opposite end a contracted outlet, said tube and reservoir constituting an elongated partially flexible conduit, adapted to be formed into a siphon of which the intake end portion of the tube constitutes the shorter leg, and the reservoir a longer-legenlargen1ent rendering the siphon automatic and adapted to be charged with liquid to form a liquid piston and to retain suflicient additional liquid drawn from the body to maintain said piston, the device being portable and the reservoir supportable in a position lower than the said intake end portion, means being provided for closing the siphon.

2. A suction device for surgical use, comprising a flexible tube having an intake end formed to be inserted in a body cavity, and a reservoir having at one end a contracted inlet connected with the delivering end of the tube, and at the opposite end a contracted outlet, said tube and reservoir constituting an elongated partially flexible conduit, adapted to be formed into a siphon of which the intake end portion of the tube constitutes the shorter leg, and the reservoir a longer-leg-enlargement rendering the siphon automatic and adapted to be charged with liquid to form a liquid piston and to retain sufficient additional liquid drawn from the body to maintain said piston, the device being portable and the reservoir being provided with positioning means adapted to be separably mounted on a support to maintain the reservoir in a position lower than the said intake end portion, means being provided for closing the siphon.

3. A siphon for surgical use provided with means whereby it may be opened and closed, said siphon comprising a portable and invertible reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at the opposite end portion a contracted outlet, and provided with positioning means adapted to be separably engaged with a support and to cooperate therewith in maintaining the reservoir at a predetermined height with the inlet located above the outlet, and an :elongated. flexible tube :connected at one end with said inlet and adapted at its opposite end to receive liquid from a patients body, saldreservoir having a charging and cleanout opening and :a removable closure for said opening, preventing the useof the openmg for charging and clean-out purposes when the siphon is in use.

i i. A siphon for surgical use provided with means whereby it may be opened and closed, said siphon comprising a portable reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at the-opposite end por-. t1on a contracted-outlet, andprovided with positioning means adapted to be separably engaged with a support and to cooperate therewith in maintaining the reservoir at a predetermined height with the inlet "located 1 above the outlet, and an elongated flexible tube connected at one end with said inlet andadapted at its opposite end to receive liqu d from a patients body, said reservoir havmg a charging and clean-out opening at the end opposite the contracted inlet and a removable closure for said opening having outlet-forming members which provide a variable outlet.

5. A siphon for surgical use provided W1th means whereby it may be opened and closed, said siphon comprising a portable reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at the opposite end port1on a contracted outlet, and provided with means whereby it may be mounted on a support with the inlet located above the outlet, and an elongated flexible tube connected at one end with said inlet and adapted at its opposite end to receive liquid from a patients body, said reservoir having a charging and clean-out opening and a removable closure therefor having outletforming members one of which is fixed and the other movable, one of said members having a single relatively large orifice and the other a series of orifices of difl'erent sizes.

6. A siphon for surgical use provided with means whereby it may be opened and closed, said siphon comprising a portable reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at its opposite end a charging and clean-out opening having means forming a contracted outlet, and a flexible tube connected at one end with said inlet and adapted at its opposite end to receive liquid from a patients body, said reservoir being provided with positioning means adapted to be separably engaged with a reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at its opposite end portion a charging and clean-out opening, a removable closure for said opening having outlet-forming members which provide a variable contracted outlet, and a flexible tube connected at one end with said inlet and adapted at its opposite end to receive liquid from a patients body, said reservoir being provided with means whereby it may be mounted on a support with the inlet 10- cated above the outlet.

8. A siphon for surgical use provided with means whereby it may be opened and closed, said siphon comprising a portable reservoir having at one end portion a contracted inlet and at its opposite end portion an outwardly projecting tubular neck forming a filling and clean-out opening, a removable closure for said opening having a fixed member, a movable member, said members being adapted to cooperate in forming a variable contracted outlet, and external means for turning said movable member to vary said outlet and a flexible tube connected at one end with said inlet and adapted at its opposite end to receive liquid from a patients body, said reservoir being provided with means whereby it may be mounted on a support with the inlet located above the outlet.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ALBERT H. TUTTLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

